2006 June Archive at On the Wings

Monthly Archive for June, 2006

Wings Sign Lidstrom: 2 years, $7.6 million/season

Published

on June 30, 2006

. 4 Comments

GM Ken Holland has worked his magic and gotten Nicklas Lidstrom to sign a two-year, $7.6 million/season contract. This comes despite news that the salary cap will be raised to $44 million next season, after higher than expected profits during this past season (when the cap was $39 million). Based on the increase in cap space, Lidstrom could’ve demanded a raise to around $8.5 million to stay around the same percent salary of cap space. And with his fourth Norris Trophy win, he could’ve even entertained the prospects of a $8.8 million contract (20% of the cap for 2006-2007). Prior to the lockout, Lidstrom was pegged to make $10 million during the 2005-06 season, but the 24% rollback brought that number down to $7.6 million.

This is a honorable move by Lidstrom, who by all reports was expected to get a raise to at least $8 million/season. That extra $400,000 in cap space will allow Holland more flexibility in signing remaining prospects and regulars. And it sets the bar for Shanahan to also sign for the “hometown discount” that Holland has been talking about lately.

Frankly, I’m very surprised that Lidstrom signed for anything less than $8 million, as he had a great bargaining position with his career-high 80 point season and fourth Norris Trophy win. Holland, on the other hand, suffered another first round defeat and knew other teams would offer Lidstrom practically whatever he demanded. It shows Lidstrom’s dedication to the team that has helped him win 3 Stanley Cups.

Christy’s Anti-Roy post

Published

Matt Saler

on June 29, 2006

in Hockey Bloggers, Links and Patrick Roy

. 0 Comments

Ahh, such fond memories. Maybe today I’ll break out my Games 6 and 7 tapes from the 2002 Conference Finals…

Link

CP: J.R. wants to play in Canada - for cheap

Published

Matt Saler

on June 28, 2006

in Jeremy Roenick and Links

. 13 Comments

I always thought it was a bummer things didn’t work out between the Wings and Roenick in the summer of 2001, although they were able to acquire Hasek, Hull, and Robitaille instead, which more than made up for any disappointment I had. Sounds like the number of horse farms around a given city is no longer a determining factor in negotiations, however. So, you know, JR, Detroit’s just across the river from Canada. Why not sign here?

Link

Bob Duff on Bob Wyshynski’s new book

Published

Matt Saler

on June 28, 2006

in Books, Hockey Media and Links

. 1 Comment

Wyshynski’s recently-published Glow Pucks and 10-Cent Beer : The 101 Worst Ideas in Sports History looks like a good read.

Link

Dave Lewis to be Named Head Coach of Boston Bruins

Published

Brian List

on June 28, 2006

in Bruins, Dave Lewis and Links

. 0 Comments

It looks like Dave Lewis finally caught a coaching break. After getting fired late in the summer last year, he was unable to find a coaching position due to the timing of his departure and team stances after the lockout. He worked as a scout with the Wings for the past season. But it looks like the Boston Bruins are going to hire him as their new head coach, after recently firing Mike Sullivan. Congratulations, Dave!

Disturbing Photoshopery at VCOE

Published

Matt Saler

on June 27, 2006

in Hockey Bloggers, Kirk Maltby and Links

. 0 Comments

Poor Kirk. The off-season is an ugly, ugly thing, folks.

Link

Still waiting on The Decision

Published

Matt Saler

on June 27, 2006

in Links and Steve Yzerman

. 0 Comments

From TSN (using Freep files): The Captain “has set a self-imposed deadline of July 1,” to inform the team of his intentions.

Link

Eric Duhatschek on economic realities in the NHL

Published

Matt Saler

on June 25, 2006

in Chris Pronger, Hockey Media, Links and Oilers

. 3 Comments

Good read about the two big deals at the draft yesterday but I like the last two paragraphs the best, especially this part:

The Oilers won’t be in any hurry to accommodate Pronger’s wishes until they get the right deal in place (how about Pronger to Florida for hometown boy Jay Bouwmeester?) ….

After thinking more about that trade request, I’m becoming more and more glad that there’s no chance of the guy coming to Detroit. If requesting to be traded, whatever the reason, is all the thanks the Oilers get for putting Pronger in a position to win the Cup for the first time in his career, maybe they ought to send him where he’ll have no chance of getting that far for as long as his contract lasts (four more years). Maybe his wife would like Miami. (link via. James Mirtle)

Red Wings Draft Pick Profiles

Published

Matt Saler

on June 24, 2006

in Draft and The Team

. 0 Comments

The Wings took 18-year-old Cory Emmerton 41st overall as their first pick of the draft. Emmerton scored 90 points (26G, 64A) in 66 games for the Kingston Frontenacs this past season, had an assist in the OHL All-Star Game and scored two goals in six games in the postseason.

Hockey’s Future has this to say about him:

A talented playmaker with offensive flair and a nose for the net, Emmerton is the type of forward that makes those around him better. He has a knack for finding the open man, or hitting a teammate in full-stride for an offensive chance.He has elite playmaking and passing skills and is solid on his skates. He could benefit from some extra attention on the defensive side of the game, but he projects to challenge for the OHL scoring title should he remain in the league next season, and could be a solid point-producer for years to come no matter what level he plays at.

He’s 5′11″, 177 pounds, shoots left, and plays center. A playmaker, evidentally, not a goal-scorer, and yet another center in the system.

The Wings’ second pick was Shawn Matthias, another 18-year-old center. Matthias played 67 games for the Belleville Bulls, notching just 13 goals and 21 assists over that span. He scored three goals in the first round of the OHL playoffs in six games.

Hockey’s Future has this to say about him:

He can skate and handle the puck, but he still needs to work on his two-way play. Never one to shy away from hard work, Matthias is considered to have NHL potential.

At 6′3″, 211 lbs., Matthias definitely has some size so he brings something the Wings could use if he really is NHL material.

For their third pick, the Wings took the 19-year-old Swede Dick Axelsson 62nd overall. Axelsson split his time between the Huddinge J20 team and the Huddinge main roster, scoring 19 goals and 34 points in 28 games with the former and 17 goals and 19 points in 23 games with the latter.

Elite Prospects has this to say about him (translated from Swedish):

Axelsson has great size and is an aggressive and physical player. He has good timing in his hits. His skating, the intensity he plays with and his forechecking is quite good. Axelsson’s main asset is his hockey sense and he is good at finding passing openings. At the same time he is a good scorer. Technical skills and hands are good. There is room for improvement when it comes to his defensive game and his acceleration.

Axelsson, at 6′2″, 176 lbs, has some good size as well. He’s listed as a forward so maybe he’s not a center.

That’s all I have on these guys for now but I’ll post more as I see it.

Three picks, three forwards. So much for bolstering the defensive depth of the system.

Update (11:11 PM): Christy has more here.

Red Wings Draft Update

Published

Matt Saler

on June 24, 2006

in Draft and The Team

. 3 Comments

Just after the 28th pick, the Wings completed a trade with Phoenix, handing the Coyotes the 29th and 152nd picks in exchange for the 41st and 47th. So, although they’ve only had two first rounders in the last 7 years, the Wings traded it away for two second-round selections. They now have three picks in the second round (41st, 47th, and 62nd).

Phoenix used the pick to select a defenseman, Chris Summers, a smooth-skating American U-18 gold medal winner, according to TSN’s draft tracker and James Mirtle.

Pretty disappointing the Wings only did such a minor deal. I’ll be honest: visions of Shane Doan in the Winged Wheel went through my head when they mentioned the Wings were talking a trade over with Phoenix. Paul Kukla says the Wings are uncomfortable drafting in the first round. It sure seems like it!

Guess we’ll have to wait and see who they pick with what they got. Since OLN is no longer broadcasting the draft, if you’re in the States, you’ll have to watch it online with NHL Network’s live stream (via. Kukla’s Korner). If you’re like me and on a slow connection, try refreshing Mirtle’s liveblog or NHL Draft Net’s tracker.

Update (10:04 PM): The second round picks are in: